About

Welcome from the Director

As a comprehensive research institution, CU Boulder faces complex and unique challenges related to human health and occupational safety. Areas such as Nanotechnology, Biosafety and Renewable Energy are at the forefront of new research protocols taking place on the Boulder campus. While we are blazing the trail of new discovery, that trail must be cut with safety in mind.

The University of Colorado Boulder is dedicated to the health and safety of every member of campus and of the surrounding community. We at Environmental Health and Safety strive to provide accurate information and timely services to ensure that all research, construction, and daily activities are conducted safely. Safety is our first priority. We trust that the information presented within our website demonstrates our commitment to environmental health and safety issues.

We invite you to review our website, which offers detailed information about our programs, services, goals, and our staff.

Our success would not be possible without the support of our campus leaders, researchers, faculty, staff, and students. We remain grateful for the commitment and dedication of our employees.

Derrick K. Watson
Director of Environmental Health & Safety

Mission Statement

Environmental Health and Safety is committed to supporting the core mission of the University of Colorado Boulder: research, teaching, and service. To support this mission, we provide comprehensive services and support that allow the university to maintain its high standards of health and safety for laboratories, work areas, and classrooms. By offering accessible information about environmental health and safety, the department hopes to contribute to the success of the University of Colorado Boulder as a bastion of research and education.

The Environmental Health and Safety mission is to maintain a safe work and learning environment, ensure regulatory compliance, and recognize and control health and safety hazards. In order to offer our expertise to the university and to the Boulder community, we strive to:

be strong leaders in the University’s educational mission

provide creative and innovative solutions to any health and safety issues that may arise

knowledgably and professionally execute our responsibilities

hold ourselves accountable both to the University and to the Boulder community

give quality service at all times, and to

show appreciation to our dedicated employees, who help ensure that the department meets all expectations in fulfilling its duties

Supporting Campus

Purpose

In keeping with its mission, CU Boulder is committed to providing an educational model for fiscally sound, environmentally responsible stewardship of the campus and its resources. The institution intends to maintain its reputation as a proactive leader in the environmental sciences and campus sustainability. The campus values decisions that reduce the environmental impacts of its function. Environmental education and participation in campus environmental programs are encouraged so that all members of the campus and community are compliant with all federal and local regulations.

Policy Statement

The University of Colorado Boulder strives to proactively manage both its environmental impact and the resources provided to the campus. As a leader in environmental issues, the university’s policy is to be responsible for protecting the environment and natural resources. We are committed to:

complying with sound environmental practices, including the commitment to meet or exceed any applicable requirements, legal or otherwise

properly managing waste and pollution

managing all our processes, materials, and people in a way that considers the environmental impacts associated with our actions

News and Updates

We’re excited to unveil our new website today! We’ve listened to your feedback and have worked with a company called Bright Robot to redesign this site in an effort to better serve our users. The new site includes a search feature so that you can easily find whatever you’re looking for. We’ve also upgraded our online […]